My mate!

~ 4

For a few days, I have even worked on a room for Brianna. With some help of course. Mostly because I know that she hardly leaves my side. She's even a bit shy when it comes to playing with other children about her age.

Now, I've finished the room and I look around. It's a nice room with light gray, lavender and pink. Together with the wooden furniture and the accessories. Yeah, I'm happy. Not to mention that I have some surprises for her.

'Brianna?' I find her in the living room, watching television. 'Can you come with me? I have a surprise for you.'

With big eyes, she follows me upstairs to a door.

'Go ahead, open the door.' I encourage her.

Careful she goes inside, only to gasp when she realizes what the room looks like. 'Is this my room?' She whispers.

'Yes, it is.' I point to another door. 'Take a look.' I think that she'll be really happy. God, the couple women who helped me, is jealous of what I'm giving Brianna.

Brianna opens the other door. Again that she holds her breath. 'O. My. God.' Then she turns around and runs up straight to me. 'Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you.' Though she has some tears, it shows how happy she is. While still repeating the words thank you.

'Those are all you're clothes, shoes, and everything. There's another door.' I show her that she has a bathroom of her own. 'Brianna, I do want you to promise me that you don't take a bath when there's no one around the house, okay?'

She nods happily. 'I will. Thank you, daddy.'

It really warms my heart that she calls me that. Yet I go on one knee. 'Brianna, it's okay if you want to call me daddy sometimes but I don't want you to forget your real father, alright?'

This time she lays her arms around my neck. 'Thank you so much for all of this.' She mumbles with her face in my neck. Giving me a sweet butterfly kiss.

'You're welcome, sweety.' I get back up. 'Why don't you take a look around in your new bedroom, okay? I'll start on dinner downstairs. I will call you when dinner is ready.' Only to come back down and to find Cyril in my kitchen.

'Happy?' He points upstairs.

I smirk. 'That's an understatement. She loves her walk-in-closet and the bathroom ensuite.'

Cyril hums. 'Did I just hear it right and that she called you daddy.' Using his fingers to make hooks in the air.

'She does sometimes but not on purpose.' I take out the meat out of the freezer and vegetables out of the fridge. 'I already told her that I don't want her to forget her real father.'

Now he just laughs. 'I'm just kidding. You would do great as a father one day, Austin. I guess that day came faster then you thought, but she's trusting you. It doesn't really matter that you're twenty. You're the alpha and you lead the pack already. You are both happy together, and it's just something that you need right now. You're smiling again and earlier today I heard you laugh.' He shakes his head. 'I haven't heard you laughing in a long time. Not only does she need someone, but you do too. You need each other.'

'Thanks, but I see right through you. You're not eating with us.' I smile a bit.

'Damn it.'

I turn around because of it. 'Language, Cyril. Brianna could hear you.'

'Ronon!'

'So glad you're back, Toby.'

I talked with Cyril about those two just a few days back. Curious that I am, I turn off the stove and walk outside onto the porch. Maybe they just missed their family and that they want to stay here a bit before heading out again... My breathing is stuck in my throat when I see a man walking right behind them. When my eyes are locked onto his, I can feel everything fade away. The only thing I can do is looking at him. Drowning in a couple of brown eyes. My heart seems to miss a heartbeat. To feel something pulling me to him. But what confuses me the most, is what my wolf is doing. He's cheering, howling, jumping while one word comes to my mind. Mate! Okay, slow down buddy, he left me six years ago. I'm looking for him for four years. How come he couldn't let me know what was going on? I push my wolf aside, taking control of him. My jaw tenses up and my hands are clenched in fists when I walk towards him.